About Us
Since 2018, The San Pedro Heritage Museum has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the unique histories of our port town.
Angela “Romee” Romero
Angela Maria Romero — known to many by her moniker of “Romee” — founded the San Pedro Heritage Museum in 2018. A fourth-generation San Pedran, her path to becoming a passionate local historian began in 2009 when she was looking for something to do after she was laid off in the Great Recession and her late mother, Maria, suggested she go for a walk. That first stroll would turn into San Pedro: Block by Block, a nine-month blogging project in which she walked every street in San Pedro in her signature Vans slip-ons, amassing a following of dedicated readers who shared her fascination with the unique culture and history of the port town along the way.
Angela spent many hours in the archives of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society, where she would later become a board member. In 2011, she parlayed her newfound street cred into Townee Tours, a historic walking tour company that took everyday San Pedrans, history buffs, Girl Scout troops and school groups alike to the streets of San Pedro to learn about important events and figures in the town’s history. Tour subjects also included everything from neighborhood histories and filming locations, to haunted houses and pizza spots.
Angela wrote a local history column in San Pedro Today magazine, launched the hyperlocal podcast “That’s So Pedro,” and engaged her audience with its popular social media pages. She led trolley tours, produced “house histories” for curious San Pedro homeowners, and developed local history programming for grade school students. Through many mediums and collaborations, Angela brought local history to the people, rather than keeping it on a shelf. She established the nonprofit SPHM to celebrate the rich history and culture of San Pedro through research, historic preservation, exhibitions and educational programs. Angela’s vision was to examine the contributions that San Pedro and its residents have made throughout history, with the goal of someday opening a brick-and-mortar history museum.
In one of her final San Pedro Today columns, she encouraged readers to “keep San Pedro cozy,” as the changing community straddles old and new San Pedro. Angela passed away peacefully at age 43 on April 8, 2022, due to complications from uterine cancer. Her family and many friends are committed to carrying out her mission through furthering the efforts of the SPHM.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM
Our Vision, Process, Values
Our Vision
Our vision is to connect the history of San Pedro to the present and ever-changing community to celebrate the unique culture and stories that formed our town.
Our Process
We collect, preserve, and share photos, ephemera and histories relevant to the culture and history of San Pedro.
Our Values
We value the diverse cultures, experiences, and families that have shaped San Pedro.
Board Members
Some of the people helping us make it happen
From the Wayback Machine
Historic Preservation
San Pedro is constantly changing, so active preservation is a key priority. We work with local partners to document major developmental changes and collect artifacts for future generations to enjoy.
Local History Education
Children should know the role their community plays in the grand arc of history. Our local history curriculum for 3rd and 4th grades connects San Pedro to historical events in greater California and across the nation.
Community Engagement
San Pedrans are proud of their community heritage and are eager to learn more about events that shaped their lives. We offer periodical lectures on San Pedro history and look forward to future exhibitions.
Community Projects
We firmly believe that San Pedro's history is tucked away in shoeboxes, attics and our own memories. We aim to mine these precious reserves through oral history interviews and projects like San Pedro Built.
